Wednesday, February 23, 2011

My usual Tuesday routine is to get up at 4:40am and go to the gym to run my interval workout on the treadmill.

This week I decided to would start attending my running team's Tuesday evening practices, currently held at the 200m indoor track at the college I graduated from. It was a great decision because I had three girls to run my workout with! We started with a warm up and then went into this workout -

800m at 8:00min pace - Is this really my half pace? This feels slow.
1200m (5:18) - Well that wasn't that bad, that surge in the middle may have been too fast.
1200m (5:32) - Ok that one was all over the place.
1200m (5:28) - That's better, more consistent but this pace still doesn't feel that hard.
1200m (5:28) - FINALLY got the pacing right and consistent and we are done!

Even though the paces felt slower, I think I did the workout correctly because it was supposed to be at threshold pace. I wasn't supposed to run the 1200m all out at interval pace. Sometimes following the plan exactly may not feel right but I think it proves to have more benefits.

The workout was over before I knew it and I didn't even feel like I had run 5.5 miles. It felt so much different to be on the track instead of the treadmill. Usually I just type in the pace and go and the treadmill says "Run this pace or fall off"; yesterday I really had to focus on pacing. I may have to make this part of my regular routine! Its a tough decision though - I love running in the mornings but I also love running with a group!

Sounds like a good workout! I never use the track and just use a flat area for speedwork, but I think the problem with the treadmill is just like you said, you don't even have to think about your pace (and sometimes I don't think the pace is that accurate anyway).

Nice running! I've never really trained on a track (but I want to!) - usually my attempts at speedwork are on the roads and occasionally the mill. I suck at pacing, so if I ever do try the track that will be a challenge!

great workout! i think you totally did the workout correctly. especially if it was supposed to be threshold. i've always found that for those runs i want to end the workout feeling like i could have done more, but it's good that i don't have to

Great work out! I have never actually done a track work out! It's tough to get track time here. In the summer, there is an outdoor track I can use, but that's the only option that I know of in my area...

When I train for my next 1/2, I def want to incorporate more interval training!